Jan 22, 2023·edited Jan 22, 2023Liked by John Warner
I am also surprised you didn't mention The Art of Fielding, which is great. The Resisters by Gish Jen mixes baseball and dystopian fiction in a way that is really interesting and fun. Mostly I'm impressed that you had the restraint to leave out The Sportswriter--which isn't really a sports novel, but includes a lot of reflecting about athletes and sport--and also Infinite Jest, which surely is the only good tennis novel ever written. Oh and Dick Francis! The Dick Francis horse racing mysteries are a definite omission. I too read all the Matt Christopher books as a kid, but my fave back then was The Fifth Base by Joe Archibald, about a pitcher who loses a couple fingers in an accident and perfects a three-fingered pitch that brings him back to the majors and exact revenge. That plot is basically the template for every one of those youth sports books we loved.
I'm late to this thread but I loved Stephen Florida by Gabe Habash (about a very intense wrestler) and The Throwback Special by Chris Bachelder (about IRL fantasy football I guess?).
Despite disliking wrestling, I really enjoyed Stephen Florida by Gabe Habash. That also made me think of John Irving, although I’m not sure any of his novels is totally a sports novel, either. Thinking about that leads me to ponder the definition of a sports novel. Does The Loneliness of the Longdistance Runner count?
Great piece. I added a few to my TBR. Like many commenters, I also thoroughly enjoyed “The Art of Fielding” and I’ll second “Indian Horse.” One other worth mentioning is “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk,” though it is not a pure sports novel. Thanks for what you do.
One more enthusiastic vote for The Art of Fielding from me. Another fun baseball book is The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings by William Brashler.
Are hypertext speculative fiction based on the premise that (American) football looks a lot different in the years 17776 and 20020. The first sets the reader up with some excellent world building, the second runs with the ball. Both are entirely worth reading.
Lots of "The Art of Fielding" fans here. Add me to the list. "The Cactus League" by Emily Nemen is not really in the "great sports novel" category, but I liked it.
I guess Infinity Jest (Tennis) and de la Pavas Lost Empress (American Football) have great sports parts in them. But if I would pick out my favorite sports writing, its clearly Flanagans Run by Tom McNab.
This isn't a sports novel but in forest gump, forest has a sting in wrestling that is weird dark and depressive and interesting, not in the movie though for some reason
"Indian Horse" by Richard Wagamese. Easily the most powerful and moving 'sports' novel I've ever read. The descriptions of hockey are both breathtaking and tragic. As for a book that connects with young readers, my jr grade students love "Keeper" by Mal Peet. Its whole premise is basically soccer meets magical realism and the kids love it.
“Carrie Soto Is Back” by Taylor Jenkins-Reid about professional tennis deserves to be on this list.
It is a recent book and it’s super.
I am also surprised you didn't mention The Art of Fielding, which is great. The Resisters by Gish Jen mixes baseball and dystopian fiction in a way that is really interesting and fun. Mostly I'm impressed that you had the restraint to leave out The Sportswriter--which isn't really a sports novel, but includes a lot of reflecting about athletes and sport--and also Infinite Jest, which surely is the only good tennis novel ever written. Oh and Dick Francis! The Dick Francis horse racing mysteries are a definite omission. I too read all the Matt Christopher books as a kid, but my fave back then was The Fifth Base by Joe Archibald, about a pitcher who loses a couple fingers in an accident and perfects a three-fingered pitch that brings him back to the majors and exact revenge. That plot is basically the template for every one of those youth sports books we loved.
When you started this subject, I immediately thought of The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach, also a baseball related story, and really good book.
I'm late to this thread but I loved Stephen Florida by Gabe Habash (about a very intense wrestler) and The Throwback Special by Chris Bachelder (about IRL fantasy football I guess?).
Despite disliking wrestling, I really enjoyed Stephen Florida by Gabe Habash. That also made me think of John Irving, although I’m not sure any of his novels is totally a sports novel, either. Thinking about that leads me to ponder the definition of a sports novel. Does The Loneliness of the Longdistance Runner count?
The Redshirt by Corey Sobel (college football). https://www.esquire.com/sports/a34363345/corey-sobel-the-redshirts-book-ncaa-college-football-interview-2020/ (Full disclosure: I was Sobel's publicist for this book, but I was skeptical about a football novel until I read it and he won me over.)
North Dallas Forty by Peter Gent
The Professional, by W.C. Heinz is certainly the best sports novel I’ve read and one the of my favorite novels period.
Great piece. I added a few to my TBR. Like many commenters, I also thoroughly enjoyed “The Art of Fielding” and I’ll second “Indian Horse.” One other worth mentioning is “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk,” though it is not a pure sports novel. Thanks for what you do.
“Golf in the Kingdom”, an oldie but a great one
One more enthusiastic vote for The Art of Fielding from me. Another fun baseball book is The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings by William Brashler.
https://www.sbnation.com/a/17776-football
and the sequel
https://www.sbnation.com/c/secret-base/21410129/20020
Are hypertext speculative fiction based on the premise that (American) football looks a lot different in the years 17776 and 20020. The first sets the reader up with some excellent world building, the second runs with the ball. Both are entirely worth reading.
Lots of "The Art of Fielding" fans here. Add me to the list. "The Cactus League" by Emily Nemen is not really in the "great sports novel" category, but I liked it.
I guess Infinity Jest (Tennis) and de la Pavas Lost Empress (American Football) have great sports parts in them. But if I would pick out my favorite sports writing, its clearly Flanagans Run by Tom McNab.
This isn't a sports novel but in forest gump, forest has a sting in wrestling that is weird dark and depressive and interesting, not in the movie though for some reason
"Indian Horse" by Richard Wagamese. Easily the most powerful and moving 'sports' novel I've ever read. The descriptions of hockey are both breathtaking and tragic. As for a book that connects with young readers, my jr grade students love "Keeper" by Mal Peet. Its whole premise is basically soccer meets magical realism and the kids love it.